….. commends Sen. Lado’s proactiveness, dedication
By Our Reporter
The Senate Committee on Electoral matters has screened President Bola Tinubu’s nominees from for confirmation as Resident Electoral Commissioners for the Independent National Commission (INEC).
This is contained in a statement by Iyogun Asobumeh Sunday, Assistant Director , Information and Public Relations, Office of the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate), on Wednesday in Abuja.
The screening was in compliance with the provisions of section 154(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
The Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Sharafadeen Abiodun Ali, in his remarks commended the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly matters (senate) , Sen. Basheer Lado Mohammed, for his proactiveness and dedication to duty upon his prompt presentation of the Presidential nominees to the Committee for screening.
Sen. Sharafadeen stressed that the committee members were not gathered as lawmakers, but as custodians of Nigeria democracy tasked with the sacred responsibility of ensuring that those who oversee the electoral process are people of integrity, impartiality and competence.
He added that the integrity of any democracy rests solely on the credibility of its election, and that credibility is in turn dependent on the integrity of the institutions and individuals who manage them.
Admonishing the nominees, the chairman said INEC was not just a bureaucratic body, it is the heartbeat of Nigeria democratic process.
“Resident Electoral Commissioners must be impartial arbiters insulated from political pressure, guided by the rule of law and committed to the principle of transparency, fairness and justice
“Our aim here today is to scrutinise the qualification, experience, character, competence and commitment required to discharge the mandate of the office with impartiality, trust that the sanctity of the ballot and the will of the people will be upheld.
“It is an exercise of due diligence on behalf of the people,” he said.
The Chairman congratulated the nominees, saying that their nomination is in itself a recognition of service and expertise. He thereafter invited the nominees to brief the committee on their knowledge of electoral integrity, past role in public or private service and their readiness to put the nation before personal or partisan interest.
Members of the committee on their part individually called on the nominees to put the interest of Nigeria and the people first in discharge of their duties if confirmed.
Questions were also raised by the committee members for clarification by the Nominees
The Nominees all pledged to carry out their mandate with diligence if confirmed.
The list of the Presidential nominees for confirmation as Resident Electoral Commissioners include; Umar Yusuf Garba from Kano state, Saad Umar from Bauchi state, Chukwuemeka C. Ibeziako from Anambra state, Umar Mukhtar from Borno state and Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem from Bayelsa state.